Kensington Rape Has Neighbors on Edge

The alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl has put neighbors and residents of Kensington on alert. NBC10's Katy Zachry reports. (Published Tuesday, April 9, 2013)

Jerome Jasper plans to keep an extra eye on his three daughters tonight.

“It’s terrifying,” he said. “I try to keep them as safe as possible. Someone is always with them and they’re never out here by themselves.”

Jasper’s newfound fear was sparked by an incident that occurred only a few doors down from his Kensington home. Police say a 14-year-old girl was gang raped by a group of five men.

The girl was walking home from a store along the 2600 block of Collins Street Monday night around 10:50 p.m. Suddenly she was grabbed by five men who took her to a narrow street behind a parked truck, threw her to the ground, and raped her.

As the assault took place, police officers on patrol spotted the men and quickly intervened. Investigators say they arrested two of the suspects while the other three ran off. Police say one of the suspects in custody is a 14-year-old boy.

“I wish I would’ve been there,” said Fran O’Keefe, who lives near where the attack took place. “Because they would have never gotten away. I would’ve beaten them with a bat and that’s the God’s honest truth.”

Steve Putz, who also lives near where the attack occurred, says the incident is the final straw.